Newsletter

Letters to the Editor Friday

I’ve been outvoted by government dependents who believe that my lifetime of $1.8 million in tax payments just can’t sustain them.

I’ve been outvoted by high school and college teenagers, most of whom have yet to develop common sense, let alone the wisdom to direct a great nation.

I’ve been outvoted by women who feel grown-up enough to have sex with their boyfriends and husbands, but want me to pay to prevent the reproductive consequences of their pleasurable activities.

I’ve been outvoted by Hispanic citizens who want American citizenship granted to their illegal family, while asking me to ignore the fact that their first act as a prospective American was to break the law.

Tales of financial doom or recessionary woes shall dance through our heads, when all we need know is from what side of the cliff to jump.

Allowing Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy to expire should be at the top of our list. Slashing federal spending that smells of austerity or limiting social programs for the elderly is more naughty than nice.

Bringing the troops home would add to the seasonal bliss, as we try wishing a little harder for clarity and unity to lead this world through ideas, imagination, cooperation and most certainly, peace on this earth.

CHARLES HUDSON

Rincon

Death penalty is never the solution

Life loss is a waste, no matter the circumstance. The death penalty is not an effective form of punishment.

With our economy in the state that it is in, waste is not an option. The price to kill one criminal is a lot higher than the cost of a putting one criminal away in prison for life.

With all these able bodies being kept in cages, they should be utilized to make products and produce more than what we put in as tax payers.

Criminals should suffer, but they should also give back. The offender being killed by the state is far from solving this problem.

It is common knowledge that it is hard to qualify for the death penalty. Ironically, the ones who do are so far gone they welcome it with open arms. The wrongdoer deserves to be punished, but death isn’t punishment.

The trail puts them on a pedestal, giving them a sense of being important.

The killer is put in isolation from other prisoners, keeping them safe from the stresses of a hostile environment and given a hot meal just before they are released from this world with all its worries.

Is that justice?

All life has a value, even the killers and the murders. Yes they should be separated from civil society, but being released from this world brings no profit, and, even moreso, no justice.

MARQUE HODGE II

Mableton

Paula Deen ‘racist’? There’s no way

During the past decade, I have developed a personal rapport and relationship with Paula Deen and her sons Bobby and Jamie.

They have always shown me the utmost respect and professional courtesy when I patronized their business. I have received the same professional courtesy from Uncle Bubba’s.

When I became seriously ill, Bobby gave me his personal cell phone number and implored me to call him if ever I needed him for anything.

I am just a plain old country African-American guy, but I have been around long enough to detect a racist when I encounter one. Ms. Deen is no racist.

The compassion and friendliness that I have received from the Deens over the years has been unparalleled. On occasion, they would say to me, “Don’t worry about the bill, this one is on us.”

These people are not fictitious, false pretenders, charlatans and fakes. They are for real.

Considering my years in public service and political life, I would have witnessed something seriously amiss considering the number of times I have frequented their restaurant.

I have also spoken to a former employee from my hometown of Claxton who told me that they really looked out and cared for their employees and paid them handsomely for their work.

JEROME WOODY

Claxton

Interfering with custodial parents is a criminal act

Savannah residents are apparently not well-served by either the metro police or sheriff’s office.

Neither law enforcement agency seems to have ever heard of Ga. Code 16, 16-5-45, which makes custodial interference either a misdemeanor or felony.

Residents who are victims of the violations of this law are repeatedly told to contact a lawyer when it is in fact a criminal offense.

Until local law enforcement starts enforcing this and other existing laws, residents should seek new leaders for these law enforcement departments.